fire plate / Royal Liver Insurance, c. mid 1800s

Fire Insurance mark or fire plate of the Royal Insurance Company (Royal Liver). From 1710 such plaques were fixed to the outside wall of a building to show the Fire Brigade that the building had paid its insurance and was entitled to the fire services. Buildings without the fire mark would not be served by the Fire Brigade. The Royal Liver was a Liverpool company. Pressed metal, painted red, black and gold. The word ‘Royal’ above the Liver bird, all crowned. Probably mid-1800s.;